InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, which operates one of India’s leading airlines, IndiGo has signed a 20-year agreement with Bangalore Airport with plans to build a new aircraft maintenance facility. The agreement has been signed between Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) – operator of Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB) and InterGlobe Aviation and it outlines a 20-year contract between the two parties wherein the latter will sub-lease land at the BLR Airport to build a Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility. The facility will span over 13,000-sq mts and will be built over a 5-acre space in BLR Airport campus. InterGlobe Aviation has also informed that the newly constructed facility, which would be the second one after Delhi will be able to accommodate two narrow-body aircraft and will have support infrastructure which will include an engine-QEC shop warehouse and engineering offices for all repair and maintenance work for the aircraft.
New IndiGo Facility to Support Large Fleet
It is worth noting that IndiGo, which is the biggest low-cost carrier operating in India has been growing its fleet on a rapid scale. The airline already has pending orders with the American aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which will deliver planes to the carrier for the coming 15 years. The recent additions to IndiGo’s fleet made it one of the few airlines in India to boast of having a fleet of 200 aircraft. This large fleet of IndiGo is required to have a larger facility for quality maintenance and repair. While IndiGo already operates such a facility in Delhi, this new agreement highlights that the carrier will set up another facility at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
Facility to Go Operational by 2020
About the inking of this new agreement, IndiGo Chief Operating Officer, Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, said: “Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB), with its strategic location, will play an even more important role going forward. It is for this reason that IndiGo decided to build a hangar as the core of our maintenance centre in South. This facility will become operational by 2020.”
Mr Hari Marar, MD & CEO of BIAL also remarked about this new step, “At BIAL, we believe that we must always offer a comprehensive bouquet of services that will facilitate the growth of our airline partners. IndiGo has been one of the fastest growing carriers at the BLR Airport. The outcome of this agreement will create more connectivity and open new markets – further enhancing its growth. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with IndiGo.”
